The Irish standard., 1887-06-25
THRILLING ADVENTURE.
A Cattlemans Marrow Escape from
Terrible Prairie Fire.

THRILLING $AOVCN RE.
A Cattlemans Narrow Escape from a
Terrible Prairie Fire.
A few evenings ago. says the st. Paul
Globe party of Northwestern cattJemen
were grouped together in the rotunda OF
the Merchants Hotel, when one of the
gentlemen said:
| "a prairie fire with strong wind is a ter
rible thing. ! have seen several, but fort
unately was never close to but one, and
it was only by streak Of good luck
or, perhaps, Providence-that- escaped
alive"
When the group had settled back for the
story the cattleman told this incident,
which has romance enough in it for the
foundation OF novel:
'1t was in rs or '76, I don't remember
which," said the man. II was in partner
ship in the cattle business with man
whose name is immatarial with our ranch
in Indian Territory. below Medicine
Lodge. We had shipped drove Of cattle
to Kansas City, driving them from the
Territory to Wichita, Kan, which was
then the terminus of branch OF the Atch.
ison, Topeka & Santa Fe road. The drive
to Wichita was rather disas trous to the
stock, the grass along the route being poor
and water scarce. On the way home
from Kansas City it was decided that we
should con tinue on the main line of the
road to Hutchinson, from which place
would take horse and ride down to the
Territory, while my partner was to go on
to Dodge City. and also take a horse fol
home. The object was to find more de.
sirable route on which to drive our next
herd of cattle in order to reach shipping
point. Accordingly stopped at Hutchin
SON, and before going to bed was in pos
session of as fine piece Of horsehesh as
you ever laid your eyes on. The distance
from Hutchinson to Medicine Lodge was
about ninety miles, which could be reached
by hard days ride. BY daylight the
next morning was in the saddle and rid.
ing south. II will be remembered that at
that time Kansas was little settled west Of
the central portion especially off the line
OF two railroads running east and west
through the State. Consequently my ride
was rather lonely one, the majority of
the living things to be seen being prair 1e
dogs, which would scamper to their holes
on my approach. Occasionally would
happen on dug-ou but throughout the
day did not see solitary house. These
dug g-outs are strange looking objects to
persons unaccustomed to them. Usually
they are simply hole dug in the ground,
a few poles laid across and prairie grass
and dirt thrown over the top. The only
redeeming feature about them is that they
are cyclone.proof. In some cases q hole,
is cut in the side of q hill, but owing to the
nature of the country this form Of
hahitation is scarce. The day had been un-
usually warm, and had been riding rath-
er slowly, with view Of pushing on faster
when it had become cooler A breeze sprang
up from the south, and gave my horse a
tap to urge him on; but not minding the
whip he started in q different direction
than the one which he had been going.
He appeared to be- uneasy. but supposed
this was caused from thirst The sun had
gone down, and the wind was increasing,
bringing with it a faint odor Of burning
grass AS it grew dark I could see a flick
er Of light at a distance, but thought
nothing OF it 1t was not long, however,
before discovered the cause OF the horses
left, apparently in semi circle, was a
streak of fire, and at once realized that
was in g. dangerous position.
There was no way to escape except to
turn back, and I was loath to do that. /
stood still some time, undecided what to
do. 1t would be foolish to think of trying
to break through this sweeping wall of
fire. Turning the horses head in the di-
rection from which we came let him have
the reins He needed no urging and covered
the ground in fine style. I looked back
and was dismayed to see that even as fast
as we were going the fire was gaining on
us. Giving the horse q sharp cut with
the whip he gave !unge forward, but
fell, throwing me over his head. He had
stepped into a prairie-dog's hole and
broken a leg. Seeing that he could go
no further I drew my revolver and ended
his life The fire was now less than mile
from me. coming before a terrible wind,
the flames leaping high in the air. By the
light / could see small hill few hun
dred yards away, and my only hope was to.
reach that, perhaps finding shelter on the
opposite side L put forth my best efforts,
but before covering half the distance /
could hear the roar Of the flames and feel
the heat, while the smoke was suffocating
Making terrible effort I kept to my feet
for a few seconds more, and then con-
sciousness left me. When awoke it was
morning, and bending over me was a young
woman. Remembering what had passed
through, my first impression was that /
was dead and in-well, where we all want
to 20 sometime. But I soon found my mis-
take and discovered that was in cave
dug in the side of hill In flying from
the fire my last step had brought me to the
door, and falling, had forced it open. The
young woman was in great distress, and
told me that she feared her husband had
been caught in the prairie fire. She told
me her history very briefly, saying that
she was an orphan, had been married
but short time, and came from the East
with her husb band to make home. Her
husband had left her alone two days be-
fore, having gone to the nearest town, and
that she had expected him to return the
evening before. Hastily eating what she
had prepared we started in search Of the
missing man The scene was desolate
one, as far as the eye could reach be-
ing sea of ashes. We had gone little
over mile when we found the charred re-
mains Of the woman's husband. l left her
watching over him while hunted up
habltation, and, securing assistance. we
buried him near where he died. hired
man to take me to my ranch, where
found my partner had arrived all right
Shortly after that sold out and came
North, but 1 think I shall not forget that
part Of the country soon."
Just as the narrator had ceased speak
ing bright little boy came running up to
him, saying: